Hey everyone, it’s Alexander, still tearing through Central America and into Week 6 of this wild adventure. This week has been a rollercoaster—border chaos, scorching heat, and finally, some well-earned downtime in Costa Rica. Here’s how it all went down.

Border Mayhem: El Salvador to Nicaragua to Costa Rica
I kicked off the week by taking on three countries in one day, with two border crossings (technically four, since you’ve got to exit and enter). First up, El Salvador to Honduras. A handler helped grease the wheels and I breezed through in record time. Honduras is short on the Pacific side, so it was a quick two hour sprint to the Nicaragua border, where everything fell apart.
As soon as I arrived, it felt like the handlers had phoned ahead, whispering, “Here comes the guy with deep pockets.” I got hit with bribe after bribe—under the table fees that felt more like extortion. It was hot, stressful, and expensive. No data, no Garmin, just me, my bike, and a lot of farmland dotted with donkey carts and wandering pigs. And no, I didn’t stop for a photo—those things bite.
I made it to Managua after dark, something I usually try to avoid at all costs, but the roads were completely empty. But hey, the city had a decent hotel, friendly people, and Wi-Fi that occasionally worked. The next day brought some perspective: the beauty of Nicaragua’s landscapes—volcanoes, pristine farmland, and no litter. Yet, there’s an unease you can’t shake. It’s an authoritarian state, and you can feel it. The people are kind, but they’re living under a heavy hand.
You know, we are blessed. My parents gave up their youth for our freedom, and we are blessed with it. We are so very lucky.
Crossing into Costa Rica was like stepping into another world. The process was smooth, orderly, and shockingly cheap. I got to the border patrol booth, paid $3, and waited quietly for my temporary vehicle permit and insurance which cost USD 50 more, and I was off. I was cruising into a country that felt like a dream. The roads were clean, the landscapes lush, and Ometepe Island’s twin volcanoes rising from Lago Cocibolca took my breath away. It was exactly the reset I needed after Nicaragua's oppressive vibes.
Tamarindo: From Chaos to the Pacific
After crossing into Costa Rica, I stopped early to avoid another night ride. The next day, I rolled into Tamarindo, a tourist-packed party beach town that’s worlds away from the places I’d been staying. It was all real estate ads, bikini-clad partiers, and Friday night madness. Definitely not my scene, as I'm usually asleep by 10:00 pm and up at 6 am because I like to ride in daylight, but I made the best of it.
I finally got my first dip in the Pacific Ocean, letting the waves wash off the grime from weeks of riding and just enjoying playing in the waves. My face is tanned at my helmet's visor, as is the back of my neck, but the rest of me is completely white. I said I'd only stay for an hour, but I am fried! It’s not a great look.
Oh, yes–I now have to not only be aware of reptiles like iguanas and snakes when riding, but now monkeys and aardvarks are a hazard too. I think I'd rather hit one of those than a moose, but I'd rather not hit anything at all!
I ended up at a hotel just outside of town with a grocery store and restaurant next door. My hotel room doesn't have a shower head; just have a pipe and water coming out and it's not warm at all, but it's okay. I really prefer hanging out with the locals at a local hotel.
I used the rest of the time to catch up on laundry, restock supplies, get the bike cleaned, and rest. You don’t realize how much you’ve pushed yourself until you stop moving. I was fried—literally and figuratively.
Left: Arteries be damned! Centre: Hildy getting a much needed wash. Right: Yikes! Good to know!
Tomorrow I leave for Nosara where I'm meeting my partner Katy who is joining me for a week. I haven't seen her since I left Toronto and I can't wait. I've arranged for an early check in so I can shave and get myself cleaned up before she arrives.
Nosara: Yoga, Surf, and Serenity
From Tamarindo, I took on the infamous dirt road to Nosara—a loose gravel road and river crossings that locals were warning me about. Cuidado! It ended up being two hours of pure fun. For anyone who warned me, clearly, you haven’t tackled the 1,200 kilometres of the Dawson Highway that is constantly shifting underneath you.
Nosara is the polar opposite of Tamarindo. I went from duck lips and three inch eyelashes to yoga retreats, surf shops, and health food spots—a millennial paradise where granola and poke bowls reign supreme. A local I met called it the Palm Beach of Costa Rica. It’s quiet, calm, and just what I needed.
It's been weeks of tight deadlines and ripping through places just to make it to the next stop with little opportunity to see as much as I would have liked to. It’s now time to slow down and enjoy the ride. We’ve got no plans except to relax, explore, and soak in the beauty of Costa Rica.
Thoughts on the Journey So Far
At this halfway point, I’m reflecting on how far I've come—both literally and figuratively. Every kilometre is for Inspirations Studio, a program that’s as much about rebuilding lives as it is about creating art. If this ride inspires you, please consider donating. Every bit helps keep this incredible program running.
This week also reminded me why we ride. Seeing a motorcycle accident outside Tamarindo was a sobering moment. As motorcyclists, we ride with 110% vigilance because there’s no room for mistakes. It’s a tough reminder of how fragile this adventure is, and it’s something I’ll carry with me.
When you're on the bike and it's blistering hot and you're wearing all this gear, you just don't eat. You're not hungry, and I've lost some weight. Once you stop you feel pain as the adrenaline leaves your body so I'm really looking forward to this time off and spending time with Katy. For now, I’m in Nosara, letting the ocean and downtime recharge my body and soul.
Once Katy heads home, the second leg of this journey begins, and I’m ready to tackle it at my own pace—with no deadlines, no rush, just the open road and taking things one day at a time.
But for now...I'm going to take a break and enjoy this moment, right here.
This show comes on every night from 5:30–6:30 pm and I try not to miss it.
Thanks for following along and supporting this wild, beautiful, messy ride.
Stay rowdy, stay wild.
MotoAgent out
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